14. Reading. How music affects us

Read the article about the effect of music on people. Choose the correct options to complete the statements.

  

 

 

  

When you wear headphones and play music loudly, your body naturally moves along with the rhythm. It's easy to see that music can affect us physically, but how exactly does it influence our brain?

 

  

Well, when we listen to music, our brain releases a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine helps us feel good and excited. This happens really fast, especially when we listen to music we already love. That's because our brain gets ready to feel happy as soon as it hears the songs we enjoy.

  

  

Music doesn't just make us happy — it can also be good for our health. Scientists have discovered that listening to music helps make our body's protectors stronger, so they can fight better against harmful things like germs. Music has been used to help people with different health problems and has shown good results.

 

  

Moreover, learning to play an instrument is like exercise for our brain! Scientists found that learning to play an instrument can make a part of our brain, called grey matter, bigger and stronger. This helps our brain understand sounds better, and learn and remember new things more easily. People who play instruments usually have better abilities in these areas because of these benefits.

 

  

As for the genres, different types of music can have similar positive effects on our brain, if we enjoy the music we're listening to. Whether it's jazz, country, hip-hop, or any other genre, the key is to listen to music you like. However, when we need to focus on specific activities rather than the general positive effects of music, the choice of the music genre can play a role. For example, lively music, including songs with positive lyrics, can provide an energy boost and get our brain ready for learning. When it's time to concentrate, like when we need to read, write, or study our course materials, instrumental music and soft genres can help us stay calm and focused.

 

  

You can see that music can influence us positively in many aspects. What is more important is that today music is available for everyone. Even if you’d like to learn how to play an instrument, you don’t have to go to a musical school. Pick an instrument you love, find free online lessons, and practise regularly. Or just wear headphones and enjoy the magic of music. Let the songs make you feel good!

 

1) Dopamine helps us feel fastsadhappy.

2) People who play instruments are usually better at forgettingunderstandingignoring and remembering new things.

3) Soft and gentle music helps us stay calm when we need to sleepsingfocus.